# Women's Football Stadiums: Home Grounds vs. Purpose-Built Futures

> How WSL teams balance home ground challenges with the push for purpose-built stadiums to grow fan engagement and revenue.
- Title: Women's Football Stadiums: Home Grounds vs. Purpose-Built…
- Summary: How WSL teams balance home ground challenges with the push for purpose-built stadiums to grow fan engagement and revenue. Purpose-built stadiums could boost…
- Keywords: wsl, women's football, stadiums, arsenal, chelsea, aston villa, london city lionesses, kingsmeadow, cpkc stadium, kc current, nwsl, women's football fans
- Source: Sky Sports — https://skysports.com/football/story-telling/12040/13535768/whats-next-for-the-future-wsl-stadiums
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: wsl, women's football, stadiums, arsenal, chelsea, aston villa, london city lionesses, kingsmeadow, cpkc stadium, kc current, nwsl, women's football fans
## Groundsharing in Women's Football
Many WSL teams share grounds with men's teams or other sports, creating logistical and fan experience challenges.
## Arsenal's Emirates Strategy
Arsenal play all WSL games at Emirates Stadium but use Meadow Park for cup matches, focusing on fan engagement through 'Block by Block' initiatives.
## Chelsea's Stamford Bridge Move
Chelsea will play all WSL matches at Stamford Bridge from 2026/27 after leaving Kingsmeadow, aiming to boost fan atmosphere and visibility.
## London City Lionesses' Challenge
London City Lionesses played at The Den due to fixture changes, causing fan backlash over perceived 'stealing' Millwall's position in women's football.
## West Ham's Stadium Dilemma
West Ham cannot host women's matches at London Stadium due to high hosting fees, but have enjoyed success at Chigwell Construction Stadium.
## Aston Villa's Home Advantage
Aston Villa play all games at Villa Park, with head coach Natalia Arroyo emphasizing fan engagement and creating a 'special' atmosphere.
## Everton's Goodison Park Transition
Everton moved women's team to Goodison Park with pink-themed branding, family-friendly facilities, and a focus on player comfort.
## WSL Fan Spending Trends
WSL fans spend £144.70 per match on average versus £138 for Premier League fans, driving local economic activity.
## Alcohol Trial Impact
WSL introduced alcohol in stands for 15 clubs, with 70% of fans supporting the move and no negative impacts on safety or behavior.
## Brighton's New Stadium
Brighton plans a purpose-built stadium with 10,000 capacity by 2030/31, focusing on right-sizing for women's football growth.
## KC Current's Success
KC Current in Kansas City sold out every home game at CPKC Stadium, creating a community hub with no financial barriers.
## Funding Challenges for Women's Stadiums
KC Current faced 40 bank rejections before securing funding, highlighting the lack of investment in women's sports infrastructure.
## Stadium Construction Speed
KC Current's CPKC Stadium took 18 months to build, opening in March 2024, faster than their lease at Sporting Park.
## NWSL's Infrastructure Shift
Denver Summit will open a purpose-built stadium in 2028, following KC Current's lead in women's sports infrastructure.
## Fan Experience Differences
Women's stadiums prioritize family-friendly spaces, inclusive facilities, and closer fan interactions compared to men's stadiums.
## WSL Guidelines for Stadiums
WSL published new stadium guidelines focusing on female-friendly changing rooms, family spaces, and safety for women's fans.
## Key takeaway

Purpose-built stadiums could boost women's football by creating dedicated fan experiences and revenue streams, but current ground-sharing models still serve most teams.